Western Iowa man charged with murder in beating death of grandmother

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Ia. — A man has been charged with murder in the beating death of his grandmother in western Iowa's Council Bluffs.

Jacob Heyer, 29, originally was charged with attempted murder and other crimes connected to the Aug. 27 beating of 71-year-old Karen Fort, court records show. Fort died of her injuries Friday, and Heyer was charged with first-degree murder, police said.

Heyer's attorney did not immediately return a call from The Associated Press. Heyer remained Monday at the Pottawattamie County Jail.

When officers arrived on the day of the beating at a home at 2119 Ave. K, Heyer had blood on his face and cuts on his knuckles and stomach, according to charging documents. Asked what happened, he told police that his grandfather assaulted his grandmother, authorities said.

Prosecutors said Heyer repeatedly struck his grandmother in the face with his fists. Doctors said she had a number of injuries that included broken nasal passages, multiple jaw fractures and bleeding in her brain, court records show.